5-Alarm Electrical Fire Leaves 200 Homeless

Authorities say an electrical problem apparently sparked a stubborn fire that swept through a five-story apartment building in northern New Jersey.
 
North Bergen officials tell The Jersey Journal that roughly 200 people were displaced by the fire, which broke out around 5:30 p.m. Saturday and took about five hours to bring under control. Firefighters remained on the scene early Sunday morning dousing hot spots.
 
No residents were injured in the blaze, but a firefighter suffered broken ribs while battling the five-alarm blaze. His injuries were not considered life-threatening, but further details were not disclosed.
 
Fire crews who first arrived on the scene Saturday night took an "offensive approach" and ran directly into the building to put the fire out, officials told the newspaper.
 
"That was their first move," North Bergen spokesman Philip Swibinski said, adding that once the fire began to spread they took defensive measures and evacuated the building to battle the fire from the outside.
 
Sybil Ford, 37, who lived in a second story one bedroom apartment inside the building, said she did not hear a fire alarm but learned of the blaze from other residents as they rushed out of the building.
 
"Everyone was just charging out," she said. "I woke up my boyfriend and before you know it the smoke filled my apartment."
 
Officials say it could be several days before all the displaced residents will learn whether they can return home. About 100 people lived in the building, while another 100 lived in an adjacent structure.
 
The American Red Cross has been providing assistance to the affected residents.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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